We Care about Health Care

Menu

Four Important Mental Health Benefits of Being a Cat Owner

You probably already know that dogs are considered to be our best friends, right? But did you know that cats are our worthy companions too? Yes, you read that right! When it comes to helping people with mental illness, cats can be just as good as dogs, and on top of that, they are actually a much better choice when it comes to helping those with poor social skills, communication issues, anxiety, or pretty much any other struggle that is related to mental illness. While it is true that dogs will handle just about anything that you throw at them, cats are usually much less tolerant, which automatically makes them a much better therapy tool for people suffering from some sort of mental illness.

Did you know that cats are very sensitive to tension and shouting? Because of that, watching their behavior in tense situations can help people control their emotional responses when facing similar situations. For example, if you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, or even if you are married, one of your main goals should be to learn how to have such a quiet disagreement that your cat can actually sleep through it. If you raise your voice too much, your cat will react to the situation at hand, which means that you need to learn how to control yourself in tense situations. That being said, here are four important mental health benefits of being a cat owner!

Released Oxytocin in Your Brain

Spending time with your cat can help release oxytocin in your brain. What is oxytocin? Oxytocin is a chemical that is often referred to as the cuddle chemical, and sometimes as the love hormone. Two activities that can help release a feel-good hormone in our bodies are cuddling and hugging. It is safe to say that petting a cat has the same effect. Oxytocin is a chemical that can make you feel calm and relaxed, and it can also help reduce stress and anxiety.

Interacting With Those Around You

Just like we already said a couple of seconds ago, cats are very sensitive to tension and shouting. What this means is that they can teach you how to interact with those around you without ever raising your voice too much. Although this can make you a decent neighbor, it can also make you feel better.

Cats Can Fulfill Your Need To Be Touched

We all have the need to be touched, don’t we? This is especially the case with those who are dealing with some sort of mental illness. Petting a cat can fulfill that exact need in a safe way.